When it comes to the prophesied Great Awakening, regular everyday intercession won’t do.

We need to tap into God’s heart and pray His divine will. The thing is we don’t always know how to pray as we ought.

We need supernatural help to contend to the end for the transforming revival we want to see.

Check out this video with some keys for awakening. {eoa}

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I was so thrilled recently when Shemane Nugent—wife of legendary rock ‘n’ roll singer Ted Nugent—reached out to me out of the blue to talk about my new book, God and Cancel Culture. Shemane describes herself as a “Christian living in a rock ‘n’ roll world,” and I was pleased to be able to talk to her about the book, which is due out on Sept. 7.

Shemane, who says she is often criticized by believers because of her marriage to a rock star, is like many other Christians, including me: She has a deep concern about the turn our culture in America has taken. She too is concerned about the issues confronting us like transgenderism, racism and abortion.

Shemane must have heard about my new book, so I was more than happy to speak with her about God and Cancel Culture on her video podcast on Facebook,

The first thing she asked were my thoughts on why so many Christian conservatives are being canceled these days.

“Well, it’s where our culture is going,” I told her. “Really, they’re trying to cancel Christianity, and I make that point in the book.

“Ultimately, this is about good and evil. In a way, they’ve been trying to cancel Christianity throughout the centuries. However, no one has been successful, and they won’t be successful now.

“With secularism, you can be any gender you want,” I told her. “You can abort babies. Anything that makes you feel good, whether its alcohol or marijuana or whatever, it’s just anything goes. The only thing holding it back are people who believe biblical values that think there is something higher.

“They want to get us out of the public square, and this has been happening for years,” I said. “I’m a book publisher, and it’s hard to get the secular outlets to carry a book on the Holy Spirit or communing with Jesus. They will carry Christian books, but recently even some Christian books have been banned because they are not politically correct. They are eliminating people one by one, but there is no big controversy about that in today’s culture.”

Shemane told me that the “cancel culturists” are “chipping away at our freedoms, like many we have promised in the First Amendment of our Constitution. And now they’re going after freedoms guaranteed in the Second Amendment. It’s undeniable, for sure.”

But what I explained to Shemane and her listeners was that, while many Christians are going along with these liberal, leftist mandates, we still have a small, brave group of believers who will stand up to government officials. This includes church pastors in California such as Ché Ahn and Greg Fairrington, whom I recently interviewed on the Strang Report podcast.

I deal with these different things in chapters in my book, and my purpose is to try to wake up the church. We still have rights, and we have at least 30% of the population who are pretty serious Christians and another segment that is friendly to Christians. With Jesus Christ on our side, all believers need to do what we can to stand up to the cancel culture.

Shemane is doing her part with her video podcasts, and we’re doing our part here at Charisma Media.

For more of this fascinating God and Cancel Culture podcast with Shemane Nugent, click here. Please spread the word about it to your followers on social media. Be sure to subscribe to the Strang Report on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform for more podcasts to inspire you to experience the power of the Holy Spirit.

And for how you can fight back against cancel culture, make sure to get a copy of my most important book yet. God and Cancel Culture. It releases Sept. 7, the day after Labor Day, wherever fine books are sold. Pre-order it at stevestrangbooks.com or on Amazon. {eoa}

Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.

Isaiah 45:7 is one of the most controversial, misunderstood verses in the King James Version of the Bible. Over the past five decades, I have been questioned many times about its true meaning by those who were confused by the wording. God spoke through his prophet, saying:

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.”

What? Did I read that correctly? God creates “evil”? If that translation is right, would it not be sufficient evidence to indict Yahweh, not Satan or Adam, with the crime of introducing evil into this world and perpetuating its reign? But how could that be, considering the Scripture also insists that God’s “work is perfect; for all His ways are just. He is a God of faithfulness and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deut. 32:4, MEV)?

For something or someone to be labeled “evil,” normally, that characteristic would proceed from a source that is itself “evil”—wicked, corrupt, immoral and ungodly. How could God Himself be ungodly? That’s impossible!

From time to time, New Agers, or those who embrace a far eastern worldview, have used this verse to try and prove to me that the Bible upholds the “yin-yang” view of the nature of ultimate reality—that God is both darkness and light, both evil and good. This concept is based on the idea that the universe is not a creation but an emanation of God—so both the evil and the good in this world are a manifestation of the divine nature (a doctrine called “pantheism”—meaning “All is God and God is all”). Yet I contend that this erroneous view robs God of His integrity. The correct stance is this—that instead of God “being” the universe, He exists “apart from” the universe (both the terrestrial and celestial aspects). That way, His absolute holiness is not marred by the uncleanness that is so rampant in this world and the conflict that goes on between angels and demons in the spiritual world.

James 1:13 very plainly states that, “God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone.” Yet Isaiah 45:7 seems to be supportive of an opposite view. So how do we properly interpret this controversial passage and refute this flawed interpretation?

Dissecting the Details

There are four main ways to dissect the details of this issue and arrive at the core truth:

1. Find other passages in the KJV that wrongly use the word “evil.”

2. Examine the context; discover what Isaiah really intended to communicate in that passage.

3. Examine other ways the original Hebrew word is translated in the KJV.

4. Compare the KJV to other translations of the same passages.

The word translated “evil” in Isaiah 45:7 is translated from the Hebrew word ra‛ or râ‛âh (pronounced rah or raw-aw’—which are the male and female form of the word). This word is rendered “evil” 440 times in the KJV, sometimes correctly and sometimes incorrectly.

For instance, the following is, in my estimation, a grossly incorrect translation of the word:

God had just spoken the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai and after that, Moses spent 40 days on the mountain receiving more detailed revelation. When he came back to the camp, much to his shock, the children of Israel had completely backslidden. They were dancing around a golden idol, indulging in a demonically-infested orgy of lust in the name of worship. Moses was furious, and so was God—so much so that God was minded toward wiping out the whole nation. However, Moses interceded for them, and the King James Version describes what surprisingly happened:

“The Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people” (Ex. 32:14, KJV).

What? Evil? Is it “evil” for a just and righteous God to administer righteous judgments to those unrighteous persons who deserve them? Also, does God actually “repent”? Though that word simply means “a change of mind,” in our modern-day vernacular, it also implies remorse over wrongdoing. Since God does no wrong, He has nothing to be remorseful about. Of course, at times, He has changed his mind on a matter, but there are far better ways of describing that shift in opinion than the word “repent.”

Once again, a false representation of the true meaning of the passage is the direct result of the questionable and inaccurate KJV translation. The Modern English Version of Exodus 32:14 says far more precisely, “The Lord relented of the harm which He said He would do to His people.” The words “repent” and “relent” and the words “evil” and “harm” are much different in meaning and, undoubtedly, the MEV rendering conveys what that passage is saying much more effectively.

The MEV translation of the main verse in question (Isa. 45:7) also helps to clear away the fog:

“I form the light and create darkness; I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

When taken in context, the “calamity” that God intended to “create” was the collapse of the Babylonian empire through an attack from Cyrus, king of Persia, who was anointed of God to release the Jewish captives and commission them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and the temple. That is far different than blaming God with the existence of all the evil that abounds in this world.

For an even more complete study of this controversial Bible verse, listen to this episode of Mike Shreve’s Revealing the True Light podcast on Charisma Podcast Network. You can also visit his comparative religion website for the complete article here. While you’re there, be sure to download Mike Shreve’s free testimony booklet, The Highest Adventure: Encountering God, that tells the story of his conversion from far eastern religions and yoga in 1970 to become a follower of Jesus. {eoa}

Mike Shreve has taught on the spiritual identity of believers for over 30 years. This powerful revelation is featured on his weekly podcast on cpnshows.com and a weekly TV program on It’s Supernatural Network—both titled Discover Your Spiritual Identity. It is also the theme of his Charisma House book titled WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in Christ. A product of the Jesus Movement Era, Mike has traveled evangelistically in the United States and overseas since 1970 with an emphasis on healing and the prophetic.

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I want to give you a word of encouragement today. This is something that just resonated in me, and I gave a version of this at my home church, Trinity of Cedar Hill, in Texas.

Ezekiel 34:26 (AMP) says, “I will make them and the places around My hill (Jerusalem, Zion) a blessing. And I will make showers come down in their season; there will be [abundant] showers of blessing (divine favor).”

Divine favor! That is so powerful! The Lord would say that many of you have been through a season where you have felt dry inside, where you have felt like you still love the Lord, yet in your soul, you need encouragement.

You need God to do something, and the Lord says to you, “I’m going to send showers upon you. I will send refreshing rains.”

What does this mean? The Lord says, “I’m going to encourage you. I’m going to cause you to feel that joy again. I’m going to cause you to have downloads of creative ideas.” The Scripture says He will give you abundant showers, and the Lord says, “I will not withhold My hand of abundance from you. Even though the enemy tries to steal, kill and destroy, I am coming to give you a supernatural abundance for everything you need.”

He says that the anxiety Satan is trying to bring is like a weed in your soul. The Lord says, “No! When I send My rain, weeds can’t live. When I send My rain, there will only be divine favor that will spring up.” Some of you need favor right now. Don’t we all need favor? You’re going to have what you need.

I decree over you showers of blessing. I decree over you the power of God visiting your body, raising you up where you have been fighting infirmities. I tell the infirmities to go! I send showers of healing, showers of joy, showers of blessing upon you right now in the name of Jesus!

For the original article, visit generals.org. {eoa}

Cindy Jacobs is an author, speaker and teacher with a heart for discipling nations in the areas of prayer and prophetic gifts. She and Mike—her husband—co-founded Generals International in 1985. At nine years old, the Lord called Cindy when He urged her to read Psalm 2:8: “Ask of me the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the world for your possession.” That small seed God planted many years ago has sprouted and grown into an international ministry, taking Cindy to more than 100 nations of the world, where she has spoken before hundreds of thousands, including many heads of nations.

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I rarely use this column to share a word of prophecy. But for the past few weeks, a message from the Holy Spirit has been rising in my heart. I sense that leaders all across the nation feel a similar stirring.

Everywhere I go these days, I encounter weary Christians and stressed-out church leaders who have been slogging through the challenges of this pandemic season. Some feel disoriented after months of online church meetings. Others have seen church members drift away during the quarantine, never to return. Still others feel they are on the verge of a breaking point because of spiritual warfare, tension in relationships, government lockdowns or overwhelming discouragement.

It reminds me of how the disciple Peter must have felt after fishing all night and catching nothing. Peter had failed the Lord. He had denied Jesus three times. He assumed he was disqualified. He went back to his old fishing career, but he couldn’t even do that successfully. There were no fish in his nets.

But then the resurrected Jesus called from the shore. He said confidently: “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish” (John 21:6, NASB).

Peter recognized the familiar voice of His Savior. He still felt ashamed for denying Jesus, yet Jesus gave him another chance. Peter hesitantly threw the net back into the sea, and the fish began to swarm in the water. The net wasn’t strong enough to contain the catch.

This miracle was Jesus’ way of showing Peter that he was still in the game—and that God would use him to bring about a spiritual breakthrough. It would only be a few more weeks before the day of Pentecost, when 3,000 people made the decision to follow Jesus after Peter’s first attempt at mass evangelism.

Many of us feel like Peter after he had fished all night. We are tired. We wonder if our labor is making a difference. We see aging congregations, ineffective methods of ministry and an increasingly secular culture that is hostile to our faith.

But I hear the voice of the Lord calling from the shore. He still invites us to put our nets into the water—not in the same old way we did before, but on “the right side.” He invites us to try new methods, shift our paradigms and toss old traditions. He promises a surprise after a long season of fruitlessness.

Many churches I have visited in the past several months are beginning to see an unexpected harvest of souls. Many pastors have told me that new people who never attended church in the past are showing up at their services as congregations are meeting in person again.

My friend Josh Lindquist is a 37-year-old evangelist who leads Global Harvest Revival in Minneapolis. Before the pandemic he spent most of his time preaching overseas because he felt people were more open to receive the gospel in foreign countries. But today he is witnessing a new spiritual openness in the United States.

“I believe that the on-fire, remnant church is realizing that the only hope for America is a spiritual awakening,” Josh told me yesterday after leading an outreach in downtown Chicago. “America has been very hardened to the gospel, but now because of all the shakings in our society—the coronavirus, political turmoil and economic issues—I am seeing such openness.”

Lindquist has been working with two national ministries—evangelist Sean Feucht and Awaken the Dawn—to conduct bold evangelism campaigns in major cities. Awaken the Dawn’s goal is to set up 100 tents all across the United States to mobilize community-wide outreaches. At many of these events, Lindquist has seen dramatic displays of repentance.

“I’ve seen people bringing their drugs, meth and vapes to the altars,” he says. “Usually I see this type of response overseas, but I’m seeing such a desperation here, especially among young people. There is a huge hunger. I believe America is awakening.”

We can’t miss this moment. We can’t sleep during the harvest season. The Lord is saying to us:

“I have not given up on this nation. I will draw the broken, the hopeless and the hungry, and I will pour out my mercy on them. Prepare your nets and use them. Open your hearts wide and preach with compassion. My Spirit will empower you to reach the lost. Don’t rely on old religious methods. I will give you creative strategies, new ideas, new partnerships and a message that is soaked in My love and forgiveness, not condemnation or judgment. Expect even the rebels, the prodigals, the addicts and the skeptics to surrender to Me. Cry out for the rain of My Spirit. Expect to be shocked by the level of response. Then preach with boldness, and I will give you a catch that you cannot contain.” {eoa}

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Revival is breaking out in a Georgia faith community, and a woman bound to a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis for 15 years is the most recent participant in this great move of God.

The woman attended Courageous Community Church‘s Sunday service this weekend, but not because she had a deep desire to go there.

She was tired; her husband had worked until 4 a.m., but something—which she later recognized as the Holy Spirit—prompted her to go. Little did she know that she would enter the sanctuary in a wheelchair and leave walking on her own two feet, unassisted for the first time in almost two decades.

With her husband praying over her in tongues—which he had also not been able to do prior to this event—this woman not only received healing but dedicated her life to following Jesus in baptism. Her son, who had not seen her walk by herself during his nine years alive, joined her in the baptismal waters.

Pastor Phillip Fields shared how her healing testimony was just one of many God orchestrated during the church’s weekend service. Learn more about what God is doing in this family and what Fields believes He wants to do across the world here. {eoa}

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We have all heard the story of Elijah and his confrontation with the prophets of Baal. It is a dramatic showdown where the prophets of Baal attempt to bring down fire from heaven to consume their sacrifice but cannot. Elijah then drenches his altar with water before calling down fire out of heaven that consumes the sacrifice and all of the water around it.

Elijah did not do this to show the prophets their error. Instead, he did it for the people of Israel. That is why he had told Ahab to gather all the people to witness what he had planned. Once they gathered, Elijah turned to them and said: “How long will you stay between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).

This period of history is hard to follow with two different kingdoms and a long list of kings for each. It is also difficult to understand how God’s people continually broke their covenant with Him and worshipped false gods—so much so that the reader is left wondering: What in the world is going on?

Baal worship was so prevalent inside the kingdom of Israel that most Israelites participated in it. The showdown that Elijah orchestrated was meant to demonstrate to the people of Israel who the only true God was so they would turn from idolatry and rededicate themselves to Him. Elijah knew Baal was not a real god, but he had to demonstrate this to the people. They, in turn, fell on their faces and cried out, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39b).

An interesting little note is that the meaning of the Hebrew name “Elijah” is just that: “The Lord is God!” Elijah had been born for that very moment in history.

You and I have been born into a particular moment as well. It’s a moment in which our world is turning its back on God and the truth of His Word and worshipping the gods of secularism, globalism and moral relativism. God is calling us to be strong and to take courageous steps of faith to demonstrate His power to the people in our lives.

To learn more about the critical time in history to which Elijah was called, join me on this week’s Out of Zion podcast episode on Charisma Podcast Network, What in the World Is Going On? I make it easier to understand this part of the Bible and the extraordinary story of the prophet Elijah.

Walk Thru the Bible with me each week by downloading our Bible reading plan, and get started reading right away! Invite your friends and family to join us! I can’t wait to Walk Thru the Bible with you! {eoa}

Dr. Susan Michael is USA director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and host of the Out of Zion podcast.

Of the many friendships I have developed with ministry leaders over the years, one of the ones I really cherish is that of Susan Perlman, one of the co-founders of Jews for Jesus. I truly admire the work that she and her organization have done around the world, especially in places where it is dangerous—if not deadly—to express your faith in Jesus Christ.

Perlman and the team at Jews for Jesus have shown a great deal of courage in regions such as parts of the former Soviet Union, where they have brought the gospel to people who are not only hungry for a better life but who are also seeking a chance at the afterlife Jesus promises in the Bible.

If it weren’t for organizations like Jews for Jesus, those people may not ever hear about the gospel. And as we all know from 2 Peter 3:9 (MEV), it is God’s will for none to perish but for all to come to repentance.

You can hear more about the work of Susan Perlman and Jews for Jesus on another recent episode of the Strang Report.

For the safety of the people involved, Perlman says she cannot divulge any specific countries involved in the persecution of these individuals, many of whom are Jews. However, Jews for Jesus is doing what it can to bring them the gospel of Christ.

“We have a work in one city where there has been a lot of unrest, unfair beatings of people and taking them into prison and then just releasing them,” Perlman says. “What we’ve done in a lot of those situations is we’ve ministered to the people who have been beaten up. We have one ministry leader who told me about how a lot of family members will come to the jail when the family members have been arrested for just being forthright believers in Jesus and sharing their faith.

“Or, they may be protesting unfair government practices that are going on,” she adds. “We’ll provide hot drinks or some kind of hospitality for the family members who are out there. Many times, these family members are Jewish, and we have an opportunity to talk to them about the Lord in the process.”

Perlman told me that Jews for Jesus ministers in one specific country where people protested illegal elections. In the process, they were arrested and beaten up. Some were beaten so badly that they had to visit the hospital before they were transported to jail.

Imagine if something like that happened in this country, where many are still questioning and even protesting the result of our last presidential election.

“There are parts of the former Soviet Union where you cannot publicly preach the gospel without it being against the law; they will get arrested” Perlman says. “Our people are so courageous to be out there sharing their faith and ministering to others who are being hurt and maligned for, not just their faith, but for just standing up for simple freedom and rights that we take for granted sometimes here in this country.”

So when people support the work of Jews for Jesus, as I and my wife, Joy, have done for a number of years, you are really supporting, in a way, these things that are kind of unseen in different parts of the world. And it’s not just the former Soviet Union, but other parts of the world. That’s why I would encourage you to support this wonderful ministry. Who knows, you may just be saving lives in the process.

If you would like to contact Susan or support her as we do, you can email [email protected].

Click here to listen to this entire podcast episode with Susan Perlman. Please spread the word about it to your followers on social media. Be sure to subscribe to the Strang Report on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform for more podcasts to inspire you to experience the power of the Holy Spirit.

And for how you can fight back against cancel culture, make sure to get a copy of my most important book yet. God and Cancel Culture. It releases Sept. 7, the day after Labor Day, wherever fine books are sold. Pre-order it at stevestrangbooks.com or on Amazon. {eoa}

Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.

I saw in the Spirit the Lord highlighting the months of July through December of this year and then also highlighting the months of July, August and September separately.

I asked the Lord what He had in mind for these two overlapping, yet distinct, periods of time, and this is what He said:

“The months of July through December will be 180 days of ‘healthy, wealthy and wise’ for My people.

“It will all start with the three-month period of time from July through September,” says the Lord. “In this season, before the Feast of Tabernacles, I am building Myself a house. My house is in you, and I am building you up and rebuilding you; putting you back together in a new way.

“During this three-month season, you are to focus on your health in every way,” says the Lord. “You are to let Me build you and remake you into a new spiritual house for Me, for My Spirit to dwell in.

“Think not that the former things are good enough. You have made great strides,” says the Lord, “but I have a whole new level of health and fulfillment for you in this season.

“In this season of health from July through September,” says the Lord, “surround yourself with healthy things and make a healthy environment for yourself.

“It is not My will for you to live in chaos or disarray. Again, you have made great progress. I am proud of you, My beloved child,” says the Lord, “but we have a long way to go together, and now is the time when we are going to go there.

“If you will submit to My guidance and the instruction of My Spirit,” says the Lord, “at the end of these three months you will not recognize yourself and your environment compared to what you see before you now.

“I am excited about what I desire to do in you, with you and through you in this time,” says the Lord.

“I am going to partner with you to bring all things to light that you need to know. I am going to reveal things to you: strategies and blueprints; opportunities and surprises,” says the Lord.

“Happy surprises are coming to you right now; they are on their way to you today as we speak! Plead the blood of Jesus over them, that they may not be hindered or delayed,” says the Lord.

“You are in My womb, in My bosom, hidden in Me,” says the Lord. “Never forget that as My Son Jesus is in Heaven, so are you on the earth. You are My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased! I will never leave you nor forsake you; remember that!

“After September is over, you will be in a preparing season,” says the Lord.

“The months of October, November and December this year will be a season of gearing up for huge breakthroughs,” says the Lord. “The plowman will overtake the reaper in this season; harvest will drop from the air. I say it again: Your harvest will drop from the air!”

“Did you think you were finished receiving from what you call ‘thin air’ when I stopped dropping manna on the ground?” says the Lord.

“No, I say; I am ready to do it again and again!” says the Lord. “The Israelites could have had more manna even in the promised land, but they stopped believing for it; they no longer thought they needed Me to provide for them in that way. But they could still be eating manna to this day if they had wanted to and believed Me for it.

“My beloved one, you are not in the place where the Israelites were. You have learned to depend on Me, and I want you to know that your provision will fall from the air in the months of October, November and December of this year. Your provision is coming! It is here now, but the breakthrough you have been praying for is on its way too!” says the Lord.

“This six-month period is a time when I want to do marvelous things for you,” says the Lord.

“In order to accomplish them, I need you to confess My Word out of your mouth in some way every day. Be sure to do this, for My Word is the catalyst that forms these miracles I am telling you about today!” says the Lord.

“Seek Me first in this season,” says the Lord.

“Of course, that is a must for any season; it is always My command that you should seek first My kingdom and My righteousness in order for all these things to be added to you,” says the Lord.

“But I want you to know the devil will try to overwhelm you with busyness in this next six months. Don’t let him! Be on guard and get all the rest you need and I prescribe. You will actually get more done from the place of My rest than you would have otherwise. Trust Me!” says the Lord.

“My beloved one, I love you more than you know,” says the Lord.

“I have seen your cries and your tears. I know the burden of your heart. I am curing you; I am healing you; I am working on your behalf. I am rejuvenating you and refreshing you; I am bringing you all you desire. You are not alone, and you have not been forgotten. You need to know that,” says the Lord.

“But, My beloved, I work all things out for your good in time. Time is your friend, for I am working behind the scenes. Fret not yourself because of evildoers or because of those who prosper in their way (Ps.37). You will receive your recompense and reward in time, and that time is sooner than you know,” says the Lord. {eoa}

Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.

Jamie Rohrbaugh is an author, speaker and presence-seeker whose heart is for the local church. Called to intercession and prophetic ministry, her passion is to see sons and daughters transformed by the love of Abba Father. Jamie blogs for a global readership at fromhispresence.com, where she writes about prayer, personal revival and the supernatural lifestyle, and she has written for various ministry outlets. She holds a master’s in biblical studies from Berea Seminary and is a grateful member of the Redbud Writers Guild. Jamie serves as a domestic missionary in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

One of America’s Founding Fathers, Dr. Benjamin Rush, helped launch one of the most successful Black denominations in America today. Rush (1745-1813) was a Philadelphia physician, member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence and served as surgeon general during the Revolutionary War at George Washington’s request.

Rush was a passionate abolitionist who helped form the First Abolition society in America in his hometown of Philadelphia. He called slavery a “hydra sin” and called on the pastors and minsters of America to take a public stand against it. He wrote:

“But chiefly—ye ministers of the gospel, whose dominion over the principles and actions of men is so universally acknowledged and felt;­ -Ye who estimate the worth of your fellow creatures by their immortality, and therefore must look upon all mankind as equal; – let your zeal keep pace with your opportunities to put a stop to slavery. While you enforce the duties of ;tithe and cumin,’ neglect not the weightier laws of justice and humanity. Slavery is a Hydra sin and includes in it every violation of the precepts of the Law and the Gospels” (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 37-38).

Rush was very influential in turning many against slavery including other Founding Fathers. As Dr. Thomas Sowell wrote:

“Among those who turned against slavery in the 18th century were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and other American leaders. You could research all of 18th century Africa or Asia or the Middle East without finding any comparable rejection of slavery there” (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 9).

Rush became friends with the former slave and Methodist evangelist Richard Allen (1760-1831) who settled in Philadelphia after a time of successful evangelistic ministry to both Black and white audiences. In fact, his ministry was so successful in bridging racial and cultural divides that Paul Strand, former Washington, D.C., correspondent for CBN, called Allen “America’s Black Founding Father.”

Being a Methodist preacher, Allen became a member of the Methodist Church in Philadelphia. However, as the Great Awakening, which had ignited the interracial currents in Colonial America, waned, the elders of the Methodist Church in Philadelphia decided to segregate their seating based on race. At this point, Allen and other Blacks walked out.

Rush, a Presbyterian, came to their aid with both moral and financial support. He assisted them in obtaining property and erecting their own building in which to worship. They established Bethel Methodist Church out which came the African Methodist Episcopal denomination. Allen later wrote:

“We had waited on Dr. Rush and Mr. Robert Ralston, and told them of our distressing situation. We considered it a blessing that the Lord had put it into our hearts to wait upon those gentlemen. They pitied our situation, and subscribed largely towards the church, and were very friendly towards us and advised us how to go on … Dr. Rush did much for us in public by his influence. I hope the name of Dr. Benjamin Rush and Mr. Robert Ralston will never be forgotten among us. They were the two first gentlemen who espoused the cause of the oppressed and aided us in building the house of the Lord for the poor Africans to worship in. Here was the beginning and rise of the first African church in America” (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 27).

Think about it! One of America’s Founding Fathers helped launch of one of the largest and most respected Black denominations in America today. The current “reframing” of America’s founders as evil, racist slaveholders is a brazen distortion of history driven by a political and socialist agenda. {eoa}

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, available from Amazon and is website at eddiehyatt.com. For the original article, visit biblicalawakeningblogspot.com.

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